Mountain Passes, Gardens and Tandyr Lamb — a Culinary Tour from Samarkand

About this tour

If you have already explored Samarkand’s major landmarks and would like to escape the city for a few hours, this easy countryside and mountain journey takes you into the surrounding landscapes approximately one hour from Samarkand. The route combines mountain passes, unusual rock formations, protected natural areas, local markets, seasonal orchards and an authentic gastronomic experience featuring traditional Uzbek tandoor lamb. Leaving Samarkand, the road gradually climbs into the mountains, passing through scenic mountain passes and changing landscapes. One of the most unusual stops is Devil’s Plateau, known for its striking rock formations and dramatic scenery often compared to a Martian landscape. There will be time to stop, walk around, take photographs and enjoy the mountain environment. Another memorable point is connected with cinema: the route includes a location associated with the filming of the American movie “King Kong.” The spectacular natural scenery of the region provides an opportunity to discover a lesser-known landscape near Samarkand that is rarely included in standard sightseeing itineraries. The journey also includes a stop at a local mountain market, where you can discover medicinal herbs, dried fruits, spices and other regional products. It is an opportunity to experience local life and see the ingredients and traditional products used by people living in the surrounding mountain communities. Spring brings a particularly colorful version of the route, with green mountain slopes and seasonal wild poppy fields. In other seasons, the landscape changes with the fruit orchards. During blossom season, you may stop among flowering trees, while during the harvest season there may be an opportunity to visit an orchard, taste freshly picked seasonal fruit and, with the owners’ permission, pick fruit directly from the trees. The gastronomic highlight of the journey takes place in the mountains. Enjoy traditional tandoor kebab made from lamb, slow-roasted in a traditional tandoor over conifer branches. Rather than simply eating in a restaurant, this experience introduces you to a traditional cooking method in the natural setting of the mountain region. After the mountain and gastronomic experience, return to Samarkand. This tour is ideal for travelers searching for mountain excursions from Samarkand, scenic countryside near the city, authentic Uzbek cuisine and an easy outdoor experience that adds nature, local culture and gastronomy to a classic Samarkand itinerary.